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The Connection Between Problems, Algorithms, Search Engines, and Online Searches
On one side, we have problems, which represent challenges to be solved.
On the other, we have algorithms, which are sequences of instructions designed to systematically address these challenges.
With the advent of computers, the Internet, and search engines, the way we search for and process information has changed dramatically.
Search engines are systems that analyze and organize vast amounts of data, providing users with relevant results based on their queries.
To achieve this, they use specialized software, including crawlers, which scan the web to collect and categorize the content of accessible pages.
When a user performs a search, the search engine processes the request and returns a list of results, carefully selected to match the user’s search intent as accurately as possible.
Search engines solve problems by providing solutions
Search engines are designed to deliver the most relevant results to users’ queries by selecting and organizing the vast amount of information available online.
Their primary goal is to identify the most accurate answer based on search intent.
A search engine’s job is to solve problems, answer questions, clarify doubts, and fulfill user requests, ultimately providing the best possible solution for a given search intent.
When a user submits a query, the search engine processes it and returns a list of results on the SERP (Search Engine Results Page), ranked according to their relevance to the input provided.
This process relies on content analysis and prior classification to ensure meaningful results.
Although the future of online search continues to evolve, the fundamental principle remains the same: to provide answers that are as precise and useful as possible.
Search engines are a “dialogue” between input, black box, and output
One fascinating aspect of search engines is their ability to go beyond simply classifying web documents analyzed by crawlers.
Modern search engines aim to assess user satisfaction with the results they provide.
In many cases, they engage in a form of “self-criticism“… or, in other words, they continuously re-evaluate their own decisions.
They use algorithms that improve other algorithms, integrating machine learning systems that allow for the continuous evolution of search criteria and result classification.
In a way, a search engine functions as a “dialogue” that both delivers and refines answers, a dynamic process that unfolds between input, black box, and output.
SEO as a “tool” to improve website and page quality
The internal infrastructure of search engines is highly complex, but those working in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) don’t necessarily need to understand every technical detail.
What truly matters is understanding which strategies help algorithms better classify a website or web page.
The goal of SEO is to improve a document’s relevance for a given search by optimizing content so that it effectively matches the user’s search intent.
This process not only enhances a site’s ranking in search results but also improves the overall quality of web pages, making them more useful and accessible.
“Good SEO” can contribute to a better internet.
User-focused SEO, the kind that aims to best fulfill a search intent by providing relevant and high-quality solutions, is valuable for everyone. Not surprisingly, it is closely related to UX (User Experience).
When properly applied, SEO enhances the search experience within search engines and makes it easier for users to access the most useful information.
For a practical example, when SEO is used to help a web document improve its quality or communicate its true characteristics more effectively, it becomes beneficial not just for that document but for everyone, ultimately serving the user.
A new definition of SEO
I have given many definitions of SEO because looking at it from different angles helps me understand it better, explain it more effectively, and grasp its evolution more clearly.
A SEO consultant must learn how to assist search engine algorithms by providing the highest-quality content, structured in the best possible way.
Just as search engine algorithms evolve, so must our approach to SEO.
Defining it in different ways helps us anticipate the directions that “the SEO of the future” will take.
“SEO is about communicating better with others, telling a story more effectively, and helping people understand more clearly. It is about improving and responding while considering all sides of a conversation.”
SEO means providing concrete, useful answers: it is a dialogue between writer, reader, and crawler, shaping the best possible manual for the search intent being targeted.
A search engine’s algorithmic response to website changes can be seen as one of the most valuable allies in assessing the quality of online communication, its clarity and completeness.
These insights are not just crucial for SEO but can also enhance other aspects of marketing, both online and beyond.
Can thinking about a brand’s SEO help increase its value?
“SEO for a brand means communicating more effectively, telling its story in a clearer way, helping others understand and be understood, improving itself, and responding while considering all sides of the conversation between the user, the website, the brand, and the search engine. It is about providing concrete, useful answers, facilitating a dialogue between company and customer, and structuring the best possible manual for its buyer personas.”
Answering the questions “What is SEO?” and “What are the quality signals for SEO?” is a great way to rethink one’s approach and adapt not only SEO strategies but also business models.
Take keyword research, for example, the process of identifying the search terms related to a specific interest.
This can be an excellent tool to engage with consumers, understand different perspectives that can enhance a product or service, increase customer satisfaction, anticipate their needs, and ultimately add value to both the company and its offerings.
SEO for a brand also means analyzing customer feedback, such as opinions and reviews about its products or services. By identifying customer pain points and demands, businesses can integrate solutions into their web pages, making their communication more effective.
This is just one way in which SEO can help a brand grow and increase its value.
Behind every customer group, there are individuals, people who use the internet daily and come across brands for a variety of reasons. Improving SEO also means enhancing a brand’s dialogue with people and gaining a deeper understanding of the “whys” that drive them to search for you online.
Of course, SEO is just one small piece of a brand’s positioning strategy.
But then again, cakes are usually sliced into small pieces, and you can’t say you’ve finished one until you’ve eaten them all.